A few years back, I worked with a seller who had already moved out of the area. They needed to sell their home so they could buy their next one in their new city. Our first job was preparing the house after they had left. Then we hosted several open houses in the rain, got creative with our marketing, and sold it so they could meet their timeline and close on their new home.
Winter had its challenges. Rain, short days, and an empty house all made the job harder. But the buyers who came through were serious, and the showing schedule was manageable.
Here’s what the Acculist Reports data shows for Santa Clara County single-family homes priced between $1.25M and $3.25M:
- Q1 2025: 1,003 sales
- Q2 2025: 1,611 sales
- Q1 2026: 994 sales
- Q2 2026: 1,593 sales
Spring is busier in both years. But more sales also means more homes competing for the same buyers, so the calendar matters less than how your home is priced and prepared.
Winter does come with real tradeoffs. The first quarter in this band has fewer sales than the second, which means fewer buyers and fewer listings. That being said, we've noticed that the really serious buyers are the ones out and touring in the winter. In my own experience touring with buyers over the winter, those are the super motivated buyers who want to get into their new home right away. If you’re thinking about selling this winter, the better question is whether your street and price point are ready. Let’s look at your numbers together.
